Tag: Gill Henwood

Winterscape

Winterscape is a photograph taken by my friend Gill who lives in the Lake District.
She sent it to me yesterday and I just want to share such a beautiful photo. So often photos can be more meaningful than words.

  O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord :

praise him, and magnify him for ever.

  O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord :

praise him, and magnify him for ever.

(from the Benedicite – a song of creation
‘Benedicite’ means – a blessing)

[Mr G]

photo by Gill Henwood

Winterscape Postscript from Gill

When I took this photo yesterday morning, I was admiring the branches bearing fresh snow in the stillness of the filtered daylight. As I framed the picture, I noticed for the first time, a very tall conifer tree within the bare branches of the ‘linear wood’ of the lane. I realised with Mr G’s posting that I haven’t noticed that tree for the seven and a half years I have been walking down the lane. Only the loss of the thick glorious canopy of mature trees’ leaves has revealed the conifer within, and the holly bushes too.
I am reflecting on loss and revelation, the beauty of the skeletal decidous trees and the quiet, hidden contrast of the lush, hardy evergreens…. [GH]

Buds and Dewdrops

One of the joys of the Lake District is the spectacular landscape and, of course, the changing reflections of the seasons.
My friend Gill lives in the heart of it all which is a privilege she recognises.
Her photography provides me with a lot of inspiration for Blog items.
The theme of these two photographs is dewdrops and buds
They also capture something of the change from Autumn to Winter.
There is also a hint of the Advent theme of Light.

Here’s what Gill has to say:

On birch in Grizedale Forest, misty sunlight shines through the dew.
Nature’s Advent with sparkling jewels.
Light dazzling on bare branches above the russet bracken.
Looking closely, each dewdrop hangs from a bud …
There is more…
There is hope, promise, presence, glory – Advent longing ..
The trees and shiny dewdrops call to mind Christmas tree candles, St Lucy’s crown lights and Advent Carol tea lights,
The Advent ring.

The darkness is pinpricked with moments of light as we move through this season towards the glorious light of the Incarnation – the birth of the Christ-child.
The birth which comes with the renewal of our lives through  new hope, joy and expectancy….
In the gloom of our present world we long for the bright presence of God to spring us into a deeper meaning of our humanity.
A meaning  of which Nature shows us signs of being almost here in bud and dewdrop and in Advent waiting.

Photographs by Gill Henwood – Autumn in the Lake District

[Mr G and Gill Henwood]

Sheltering, waiting, nurturing

Mid Autumn Reflection
by my friend Gill Henwood who took the photos.

Brambles along the ridge track, Grizedale Forest, are aflame in the pyrrhic victory of autumnal mid-November.

I’m reflecting along the way about glory in the natural world
as leaves fulfil their task of nurturing the trees for this season,
of sheltering wildlife and shading the forest floor.
Trees and their undergrowth are gradually withdrawing their summer lush greens,
through autumn russets to the stark beauty of their varied branches.

The brambles arch and scramble below,
creating spiny sanctuaries for creatures to nestle down out of danger.
Birds and mice have mostly taken the blackberries and carried their seeds
further along the forest edges and field hedgerows. 

Creation is readying for the burst of life starting after midwinter in only a few weeks’ time.
Primroses are flowering already in sunny spots, unseasonally warmed.
Bulbs are waiting, biding their time, just below the leaf litter.

Advent is not far from us – our time to get ready,
to prepare for the explosion of new life into the world at Christmas,
the coming of the Christ Child as the new era dawns and continues…

Gill Henwood

Stir up, O Lord,
the wills of your faithful people; 
that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,
may by you be plenteously rewarded;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Autumn Confetti

Autumn leaves falling as nature’s confetti, photographed by Gill Henwood.
As the year turns with the adjusting of our time clocks, Gill reflects.

Confetti, as the clocks go back

Scarlet startled me on the step,
Stopped me in my hurried tracks
to shelter from the rain storm.
Summer green hid below the exposed
upper canopy of spreading layers
still warm, still calm, still lush.

Flames ripped along leaves clinging
to the fine slender branches,
Autumn fires engulfed the dancers
spangling gold, orange, vermilion
Overwhelming viridian vigour.
Ruby shining leaves fell in their final
whirl to carpet the cold slate steps.
Clear water washing them away
sprinkled with rose petals

A christening of confetti
For their grave. Yet…
Resurrection will come
with the snowdrops.

[Gill Henwood]